Barry Bonds is finished in San Francisco. The Giants told Bonds they will not bring him back next season, ending a 15-year run in which he set the single-season and all-time home run records and became a lightning rod for the steroids debate in baseball. “It’s always difficult to say goodbye,” Giants owner Peter Magowan said Friday.
NEW YORK (AP)– Dane Byers and Ryan Callahan scored first-period power-play goals Friday to spark the New York Rangers to a 4-3 victory over the New Jersey Devils. Blair Betts and Martin Straka also scored as the Rangers kicked off their preseason schedule. Al Montoya, bidding to win the backup goaltender job behind Henrik Lundqvist, got the start and played well.
Chris Chelios scored 1 minute, 18 seconds into overtime to give the Detroit Red Wings a 1-0 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday night. Chelios scored from the bottom of the left circle after taking a pass from Pavel Datsyuk. Tomas Holmstrom also got an assist, making Detroit 2-1 in the preseason and Pittsburgh 1-0-2.
Miami Dolphins middle linebacker Zach Thomas will miss Sunday’s game against the New York Jets after tests revealed he has a mild concussion. Thomas might be available to play next week, coach Cam Cameron said Friday. Thomas played every snap in Miami’s loss Sunday to Dallas but said he felt lightheaded in the locker room after the game.
A porous defense isn’t the only question mark for the New York Giants heading into their game this weekend against the Washington Redskins. Add receiver Plaxico Burress to the list. Burress, whose four touchdown catches are tied for tops in the NFL, was listed as questionable for Sunday’s game after practicing on a limited basis Friday.
Former NBA coach and commentator Dick Versace is looking for a new job: congressman. The 67-year-old Versace, a Democrat, said Thursday that he will bid for the 18th Congressional District seat in central Illinois. Incumbent Republican Ray LaHood announced in July he will retire when his term runs out in 2009.
New York Mets center fielder Carlos Beltran left Friday night’s game at Florida in the fifth inning after bruising the patellar tendon in his left knee when he fell on the warning track chasing an extra base hit. Beltran walked off the field with a slight limp and was replaced by Endy Chavez. Chasing a double over his head hit by Jeremy Hermida, Beltran put out his arms to brace himself as he hit…
Barry Bonds is finished in San Francisco. The Giants told Bonds they will not bring him back next season, ending a 15-year run in which he set the single-season and all-time home run records and became a lightning rod for the steroids debate in baseball. “It’s always difficult to say goodbye,” Giants owner Peter Magowan said Friday.
Cardinals players want Tony La Russa back for a 13th season. La Russa’s contract runs out after this year, which he has described as the most difficult of his long career. Last year’s World Series champions had lost 13 of 15 entering Friday’s game against the Houston Astros, dogged by injuries to key players and serious trials off the field, including the drunk driving death of reliever Josh…
Gilbert Brule scored twice, leading the Columbus Blue Jackets to a 4-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres in a preseason game Friday night. Kris Russell and Rick Nash added goals for Columbus, which improved to 2-2 in the preseason. Clarke MacArthur scored for Buffalo, in its first preseason game. Steve Mason stopped 20 shots for Columbus.
